Fire-extinguisher.



L. W SERRELL.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1914.

1, l5@,63%n v Patented A11 17, 1915.

w w. M u

lV/TNESSES: H l/Vl'E/VTOR.

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, 0F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,111.

T all or]: om. it may concern Be it known that I, Lmmm. W. Snnnnnp, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in thecounty of Union and-State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in F 1re- Extinguishers, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide a fire extinguisher which issimple 1n construction, susceptible of manufacture at low cost, reliableand eflicient, easy to re-charge, and which requires but a singlemovement for its operation.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and will now be briefly described, it beingunderstood that, while the details of construction herein shown aredeemed preferable and in fact constitute important specific features ofnovelty, numerous changes may be made without departing from thesubstance of the invention.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through the fireextmgulsher, parts being broken away and parts shown in elevation; Fig.2 is a sectional plan on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a bottomplan view.

An elongated hermetically-closed metal container 10 afi'ords in itsinterior a chamber 11 for the reception of a suitable liquid, indicatedat 12, and air or other gas under pressure for the purpose of drivingout the liquid when the outlet is opened.

At one end of the container, which may be regarded as the upper end, isa reduced portion or neck 13, affording in its lnterior an outlet orvalve chamber 14:. This chamher is separated from the main chamber by awall constituted by an apertured plug 15, which is screwed into the baseof the neck. An outlet nozzle 16 extends laterally from the neck, itsdischarge passage being in communication with the outlet chamber.

An outlet pipe 17 is disposed within the container, being secured in andentirely filling the aperture in the plug 15, so that the pipeconstitutes the means of communication between the main chamber and theoutlet chamber. Its inlet end is adjacent the bottom of the container,and the compressed air being above the level of the liquid, only theliquid is driven forth when the way is opened and as long as any liquidremains.

In order to insure the complete emptying of the liquid, irrespective ofthe angle at which the container is held, the latter is provided in itsbottom with a well 18, into which the inlet end of pipe 17 projects andtoward which the bottom slopes from all directions, as shown. This wellis formed by a cupped cap 19, which constitutes a closure for an openingin the lowest part of the bottom. The said cap is preferably screwed inplace and afterward soldered to prevent leakage. It serves the dualfunction of enabling the container to be re-charged-with liquid and ofaffording access to the inlet end of the pipe 17, for the purpose ofrenewing the seal 20 hereinafter described. The end of the pipe extendsbeyond or below the opening, so that when the cap 19 is removed it is inprojecting relation, and consequently conveniently disposed for the saidrenewal of the seal. The cap 19 is also provided with an opening, whichis normally closed by a taper, driven plug 21. This small opening is forthe purpose of re-charging the container with compressed air after theadmission of the liquid; and the driven plug affords a simple andreliable means for closing the opening and holding the pressure. Theoutlet chamber 14 is provided below the outlet 16 with an annular valveseat 22, with which coiiperates a bodily movable valve 23, the latterbeing formed with an upward-projecting stem 24:, which is engaged andactuated by a rotary operating member 25. Said member is preferablyarranged so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis, that is tosay, an axis parallel to the movement of the valve; and suitable meansare provided whereby this rotary movement of the operating memberproduces longitudinal movement of the valve. For this purpose the valvestem is preferably externally screw-threaded, and the operating memberhas an internally-threaded barrel 26 engaging the same. The reducedportion or shaft 27 of the operating member passes through an opening inan'apertured flange '28 at the top of the neck and is provided at itsupper end with an operatin handle or wheel 29. A tight joint is insureby a packing or washer 3O inserted between the flange 28 and the barrel26, the opposing surfaces of the flange and barrel being formed withopposing annular ridges 31, which press into the packing, as indicated.

A spring 32 interposed between the flange I 28 and the disk 29 holds thejoint in comwhich is readily broken by the turning of the handle.

The valve stem 24 is made hollow for the reception of the upper end ofthe pipe 17,

which thus extends above the valve seat and co-acting valve portion. Thepipe also constitutes a guide for the valve, preventin turning of thelatter, and to this end is pre erably made square as shown, the recessin the valve stem being similarly formed, but sufficiently larger topermit the liquid to pass downward from the upper end of the pipebeneath the valve and thus through the discharge opening when the valve1s unseated.

The rupturable seal 20 hereinbefore referred to consists of a thin metalwafer or diaphragm soldered or otherwise suitably applied to the inletend of the pipe 17, in such manner as to prevent access of the liquid tothe outlet valve until such time as the extinguisher is to be used, whenthe same movement which is required to open this valve also ruptures orpunctures the diaphragm. To this end a puncturing device or rod 35 isdisposed within the pipe 17, leaving adequate passageway for the liquid,as shown, the lower end of this rod being pointed and engaged with orimmediately above the seal 20, while its opposite end projects above theupper end of the pipe so as to be thrust downward by the closed top ofthe hollow valve stem when the latter is moved downward in the unseatingmovement of the valve. It will be observed that the seal is in effectinterposed between the outlet valve and the interior of the container.

It will be apparent that until used the pressure container ishermetically closed, so

that leakage and loss of pressure are impossible. The one operation ofthe operating member ruptures the seal interposed between the contentsof the container and the discharge nozzle, and also opens the outletvalve. A like movement in the opposite direction serves to close thevalve. The valvethe seal, thus enabling the user to distribute thedischarge over such period and as many separate discharges as ma seemdesirable. Whenever the valve is c osed, after the rupture of the seal,it is liquid which is maintained in contact with the coiiperativeportions of the valve seat and valve, and not air or gas, thus assistingthe valve in holding the pressure when closed. The container is readilyre-charged with liquid by removing the filling cap at the bottom, andthe same closure affords access to the inlet end of the pipe 17, so thatthe seal 20 may be renewed. The air pressure is re-introduced in themanner already indicated.

What I claim as new is:

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a hermetically sealed containercharged with liquid and compressed air tending to drive the liquid out,an outlet from said container, a valve closing said outlet and adaptedto hold the pressure in the, container, operating means for opening andclosing the valve at will, an outlet pipe extending to near the bottomof the container, a seal at the lower end of said pipe between the valveand the liquid in the container, and an element operatively related tothe valveoperating means whereby the one is operated by the other todestroy said seal when the valve is opened.

2. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container having anoutlet tube leading from near its bottom and terminatin in an outlet, avalve therefor, a handle or op-' with an outlet tube extendingsubstantially to the lowest part of said'bot'tom, an outlet valveadapted to hold the pressure in the container, means for opening andclosing the valve at will, a seal normally closing the outlet tube andinterposed between the valve.

and the liquid in the container, and means for rupturing said seal b thesame operation required to open said valve.

4. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container having a wellin its bottom and said bottom sloping from all directions to said well,an outlet tube having its lower end extending into said well, a seal forthe tube,

an outlet valve, a seal-rupturing member,

and common means for operating said valve and seal-rupturing member.

5. A fire extinguisher, comprising a container having a well with aremovable piece, an outlet pipe having its inlet end' extending intosaid well and there provided with a seal, and a seal-rupturing member.

6. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a pressure container, anoutlet pipe extending'to near the bottom thereof, a seal for the lowerend of said pipe, seal-destroying means, and means at the lower end ofthe container for giving access to the end of a seal, a cap closing saidopening and inclosing the sealed end of said pipe,a handle, and a memberoperated by the handle for destroying said seal.

8. A fire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container, an outlet pipetherein, a seal applied to the inlet end of said pipe,'and operatingmeans for destroying said seal, in combination with a removable piececent the inlet end of said pipe for giving access thereto, saidremovable piece having means therein for admitting air or gas underpressure.

9. A fire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container having anoutlet, a valve therefor movable lengthwise of the container, a rotaryhandle for operating the valve, a puncturing member connected to saidvalve, an outlet pipe in said container surrounding said member, and aseal applied to the lower end of said pipe.

10. A fire extinguisher, comprising a hermetically sealed containercharged with liquid under pressure tending to drive it out, saidcontainer embodying an outlet and a valve adapted to hold the pressurein the container, a discharge pipe leading to the outlet from near thebottom of the container, a seal interposed between the valve and theinterior of the container and normally keeping the liquid from thevalve, and seal rupturing means connected with the valve.

11. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container for holdingliquid and air under pressure to drive the liquid out, a discharge tubein the container having a rupturable seal at its inlet end, a rupturingdevice, a cap for giving access to said inlet end and having an aircharging orifice, and a plug for said orifice.

12. A fire extinguisher comprising a container having a chamber forholding liquid and air under pressure, an outlet valve chamber having avalve seat, a valve in said valve chamber, and an operating member formoving said valve away from its seat, in combination with an outlet pipewithin the firstnamed chamber. said pipe extending into said valvechamber beyond said valve seat.

13. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a chamber for holdingliquid and air under pressure, an outlet chamber, a valve controllingthe discharge from said chamber, and means affording an outlet passagehaving its inlet end near the bottom of the firstnamed chamber anddelivering into said outlet chamber above said valve, said chambersbeing otherwise cut off from communication with each other.

- 14. A fire extinguisher comprismg a container having a chamber forholding liquld and air under pressure, an outlet chamber having a valveseat, a hollow valve movable to'and from said seat, and means forconducting the liquid from near the bottom of the first-named chamberinto said outlet chamber comprising a tube extending within said hollowvalve.

15. A fire extinguisher comprising a container having a chamber forholding liquid and air under pressure, an outlet chamber having a valveseat, a valve cooperating with said seat and having a hollow stemextending upward above the same, an operating device cooperating withsaid valve to depress the same, and an outlet tube leading from near thebottom of the first-named chamber and extending upward into said hollowstem.

16. The combination of a container having a chamber for holding liquidunder gas pressure, an outlet chamber separated from the other chamberby a wall, said outlet chamber having a valve seat, a valve in saidoutlet chamber movable toward and from said seat, an operating memberrotatable about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of saidvalve, and an outlet tube secured in an opening in said Wall andentering said valve, being formed to prevent the latter from turning.

17. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container having achamber for holding liquid under gas pressure, an outlet chamber, ahollow outlet valve therein, an outlet pipe forming the communicationbetween said chambers, said pipe having its upper end received withinsaid hollow valve and a seal'for its lower end, and a puncturing rodpassing through said pipe and having its upper end bearing against theinside of the top of said valve to be actuated thereby.

18. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container for holdingliquid under gas pressure, an outlet valve adapted to hold the pressurein the container, an operating member for opening and closing the sameat will, an outlet pipe for conducting liquid from near the bottom ofsaid container to said valve, a seal for the inlet end of said pipeinterposed between the valve and the interior of the container, and aseal-rupturing member arranged to be engaged and actuated by said valve.

19. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container having a neckformed at the top with an apertured flange, an outlet valve having ahollow stem extending upward in said neck, an operating barrel rotatablein said neck and receiving and engaging said stem, an operating shaftextending upward from said barrel through said apertured flange, a wallbetween said neck and the maininterior of the container, and an outletpipe passing through said wall into said hollow stem.

20. The combination of a container for holding liquid undergas pressure,a neck on the container having an apertured top flange, a wallseparating the interior of the neck from the interior of said container,an outlet pipe secured in an opening in said wall, an outlet valve abovesaid 'wall, an operatingbarrel rotatable in said neck and havingareduced portion extending through said apertured flange, the opposedportions of said flange andkbarrel having annular ridges, a packingtherebetween, and a spring arranged to press said barrel against thepacking.

21. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container for holdingliquid under gas pressure, an outlet chamber, a valve controlling thedischarge therefrom, an apertured plug separating said chamber from theinterior of the container, and an outlet pipe secured in the aperture ofsaid plug for conducting the liquid from the interior of said containerinto said outlet chamber.

22. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a container for holdingliquid under gas pressure, a neck on the container having an aperturedtop flange, an outlet valve, a rotary operating device in said neckhaving a reduced portion passing through said apertured flange, a sklrton said reduced portion, and a spring housed in said skirt and bearingagainst the top of said flange.

In witness whereof I have signed my name in the presence at twosubscribing witnesses.

LEMUEL W. SERRELL. Witnesses:

J. F. BRANDENBURG, E. GREENBERGER.

